Toews to miss Tuesday's game, All-Star Game in doubt

The Blackhawks BlogToews to miss Tuesday\'s game, All-Star Game in doubt

Captain Jonathan Toews will miss Tuesday's game against Nashville and is likely to miss Sunday's All-Star Game due to an upper body injury, head coach Joel Quenneville said after practice Monday. The center remains day-to-day with the injury, which Quenneville added was "not serious."

Toews left Saturday's game - a 5-2 loss in Nashville - in the second period and did not return. Quenneville said there wasn’t a defining blow in either Friday or Saturday's game that caused the injury. The coach added he hopes to get Toews back after the All-Star break, when the Hawks begin a nine-game road trip that starts in western Canada.

"We've got some time off and some extra days there. Hopefully he can progress," Quenneville said. "Time is in our favor with the whole week off. There's no good time to get injured, but it's all part of the season. Everybody deals with it."

In the meantime, Quenneville hopes that other members of the team can step up and fill in for Toews in his absence. During practice Monday, Dave Bolland filled the top line pivot position between wingers Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg.

"You miss his leadership and importance to our team," Quenneville said. "But you get tested along the way. Guys can add something to the leadership group when you're missing your captain. You find out more about your team.

"We're looking at tomorrow's game and its importance. It doesn't have to be pretty - it can be more workman-like. That's what it's going to take tomorrow night."

News and notes: Patrick Sharp, who has not played since Jan. 8 due to an upper body injury, skated at practice today. Quenneville says he is still targeting a post-All-Star Game return... Corey Crawford, who started Saturday's game at Nashville, will start the second part of the home-and-home series against the Predators at the United Center.